Statesmen Win Twice on First Day in Arkansas
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Batesville, Ark.–The William Penn softball team collected a pair of solid victories as it got back on the diamond at the Lyon Tri-Match Sunday.
WPU (3-1), which is off to its best start since 2015, defeated Saint Mary (Kan.) 6-1 and host Lyon 3-1. The navy and gold will remain in town Monday, once again facing Saint Mary (10 a.m.) and Lyon (12 p.m.).
The Statesmen got right to work in the day’s opener with a four-run first frame against the Spires (1-5). Lexi Riccardi (Jr., Redwood City, Calif., Biology) started with a two-run double and Whitney Stone (Fr., Roseburg, Ore., Education) pounded a two-run home run in the next at-bat.
USM got a run back in the top of the second, but Sonia Reddy (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) put William Penn back up by four with an RBI single in the bottom half.
Riccardi then capped the game’s scoring with another RBI two-bagger in the fifth. The junior finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run. Reddy and Emily Brown (Sr., Waverly, Iowa, Biology), who touched home plate twice, also both ended up with a pair of base knocks as WPU owned an 8-2 advantage in hits.
The navy and gold won despite committing three fielding errors.
Katie Springer (Jr., Riverside, Iowa, Psychology and Human Services) garnered her first win of the season, striking out five against three walks in five innings of work. The one run she permitted was unearned.
Shelby Copley (Sr., Denver, Colo., Biology) closed out the game with two scoreless frames; the senior had one strikeout and three walks.
William Penn nearly replicated the first game’s early success, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. Riccardi again produced, driving in Brown and Kiya Harper (Jr., Decatur, Ill., Exercise Science) on a double. Riccardi then came around as well via a single off the bat of Lindsay Lambert (Sr., Elk Grove, Calif., Elementary Education).
That was more than enough offense for starting pitcher Harper and relief hurler Karlee-Rose Perry (Sr., Kaupo, Hawaii, General Biology). Harper struck out four (three walks) in three innings, allowing only one run on one hit, while Perry had three strikeouts and one walk in four innings of three-hit shutout ball.
The offense totaled 11 hits, compared to just four for the Scots (8-1), who are ranked 38th in the NAIA. Eight different players managed a base knock, led by two each from Reddy, Brown, and Riccardi.
William Penn had numerous other scoring chances, but unfortunately left runners in scoring position in four additional innings.
“This was a good start to our trip,” Head Coach Mike Christner said. “We hit the ball well, but still need to clean up some things on the defensive side. I am proud of the ladies for the way they played.”
